Remembrance Day services in Barrie were not officially recognized at the downtown cenotaph as COVID restrictions prevented it, but that didn’t stop approximately 150 people from observing their moment of silence at Memorial Square.
People started surrounding the Dunlop Street cenotaph at 9 a.m., placing painted rocks and paper poppies on the city’s memorial to its fallen soldiers.
The City of Barrie announced Oct. 27 that there would be “no public ceremony at the Memorial Square cenotaph, as has been tradition in previous years, and residents are advised against gathering at the Memorial Square cenotaph on Nov. 11.”
Undeterred, Mike Clark brought a group of about 15 people down to the cenotaph, including his children as well as some friends.
Clark told BarrieToday why he thought it was important to be there.
“We don’t really need the government to have our own Remembrance Day reflection. It isn’t about the politicians, it's about honouring those who gave their lives,” said Clark. “All our lives we’ve been told that men and women died for our freedoms, right? What was Normandy for? What was Dieppe for? It was to preserve a way of life and be free.
“We pushed back the Germans because we didn’t like what they were doing to innocent and free people in other countries," he added. "We have the right to assemble peacefully and we’re going to do that whether you like it or not, or there could be another Normandy one day, if it gets to that.”
Clark’s daughters read Flanders Fields just before 11 a.m. Clark then let the crowd know it was time for two minutes of silence.
A recording of the Last Post played and attendees lined up to place their poppies on the cenotaph.
Kevin Drew says he was disappointed in city council members for not being at the memorial, if even for the 11 a.m. moment of silence.
“I was at some of the rallies and protests this past summer because I felt it was important to speak up against injustice for others,” said Drew. “I saw several politicians, including this ward’s representative, out to show support for those causes. I didn’t see anyone of them here today, and I’ll remember that during election time.
"This was important and didn’t have anywhere near the same amount of people as other events," he added.
BarrieToday spoke to Ward 2 Coun. Keenan Aylwin who said stayed away on the advice of public health officials.
“Following the advice of the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, the City of Barrie asked residents to pay their respects from home or virtually," he said. "To protect the health of our local veterans and community members, there was no in-person, public ceremony at the Memorial Square cenotaph in downtown Barrie and the public were advised not to gather at the cenotaph.
“As an elected official, it is my responsibility to lead by example," Aylwin added. "One way that we can honour the memory of those who have lost their lives is by working together and following the advice of public health to keep each other and our communities safe.”
George Breley moved to Canada from his home in Manchester, England, 20 years ago. The 70-year-old and his wife were two of the first to get to the cenotaph. He told BarrieToday he wasn’t going to miss it and was disappointed that others from the city did.
“It's a shame, a real shame. I do understand what we’re going through with the virus, but there are ways to be safe and honour those who gave all for us,” said Breley.
Breley got choked as he continued.
“This is about them, what they did,” he said as he pointed to the cenotaph. “They gave up so much. It didn’t have to be a big thing, just someone being here. Someone from city hall, someone. Sorry, I get a little emotional on this day.”
Breley was wearing the medals his father was honoured with for his time in the Second World War.
“He fought, he came out and came home; he was one of the lucky ones. But like others, he never spoke of it, only the funny stories he would tell us,” Breley said.
“As a kid, when you asked him if he killed anyone, he would look away, you know. He’d say, 'No, no, not me.' I was too small.”
